The Powerade blue color of Lago General Carrera contrasts nicely with the eroded marble limestone
Highlights
Three hour boat tour on Powerade blue Lago General Carrera to see eroded marble limestones. Lago General Carrera is the second largest lake in South America.
Time of Visit: February 2024
Duration of Visit: Three nights
Description
The Marble Caves are on Lago General Carrera in southern Chile. The marble limestones in Lago General Carrera have been eroded throughout the years because of the carbonic acid present in the lake. This in turn have created small caves in which the attraction is named after. The barrio of Puerto Rio Tranquilo serves as the main hub of several tour operators.
It is not easy to reach Puerto Rio Tranquillo. The closest airport is Balmaceda, Coyhaique, Chile. From Balmaceda, it is about 190 kms and over three hours of driving. The last 130 or so kilometers is graded dirt and gravel with the occasional stretch of washboard sections. The road is also winding. We rented a Peugeot Landtrek which is a 4×2 dual cab truck similar in size to an extended Toyota Tacoma. We were glad we rented a truck with high clearance as it made driving on the unpaved road less bumpy and faster (fast being 60 kph). Car would have taken twice as long unless risking mechanical breakdown.
Marble Cave Tour Operators
All the tour operators are in the same location – at the end of Pedro Lagos Street between Ruta 7 and the lake. Their offices are one after the other. There are over a dozen tour operators so deciding on which one to pick is like being in a candy store – so many choices.
We asked our accommodation before arriving at Puerto Rio Tranquilo for a tour operator recommendation. We were given a couple and corresponded with them through WhatsApp. We eventually went with Sur Nomade and were happy with the service they provided.
How to Visit Marble Caves
There are primarily two kinds of Marble Cave tours, referred to as Simple and Full. A Simple tour just goes to the marble caves and is shorter. A Full tour adds a 20 to 30 minute walk around the former mining barrio of Puerto Sanchez and looking at (from the tour boat) a couple of historical boats that used to serve the barrio.
The first tour leaves around 8 AM. Best to book this early tour a day or two in advance. Chances of having an open seat the day of the tour is low. We made our reservation a couple of days prior but the kicker was that we needed to pay for the tour the day before. The tour operator offices close at 8 PM.
Lago General Carrera is the second largest lake in South America. It is also windy most of the time in this part of Chile. Where there is wind, there are waves. The waves in Lago General Carrera can be up to three meters according to our guide. It is best to get on the early tour when the wind is not as strong and the waves are not as high compared to later in the day or afternoon.
Full Tour Description
The Full Tour made the following stops:
- Abandoned EMA ship and boat named Don Jorge
- Former mining town of Puerto Sanchez
- Cruise alongside several marble caves culminating at the Cathedral and the Chapel
Abandoned Ships
Our first stop was the abandoned EMA ship and boat named Don Jorge. EMA is an acronym for the mining company. The ship used to bring the mined minerals. The boat Don Jorge used to serve as the water taxi for Puerto Sanchez when it was a mining community. Back then, there were no roads that led to Puerto Sanchez so both vessels served as the mode of transportation and the lake as the highway.
Puerto Sanchez
Puerto Sanchez used to be a bustling zinc and copper mining town from the 1940’s to the 1990’s. The mines closed when minerals ran out. There used to be over 1,000 people that lived in Puerto Sanchez during the mining boom. Now the inhabitants have dwindled to 48 families and just over 100 people. Our guide said that it would probably get smaller as younger generations leave and do not come back. The remaining residents are just the old-timers. We did not see anybody come out when we walked the streets for about 20 minutes. There are also docile horses that were amenable to be petted.
Caves
There are multiple marble caves. The caves are formed by wind and water. The wind creates the wave that splashes on to the limestone marble rock. The water in Lago General Carrera has carbonic acid which slowly erodes the marble surface.
The caves are not big at all but in some places it is big enough for tour boats to get in. The longest cave is 45 meters deep and about three meters in height. The best place to take photos is from within a cave and looking out. The light just brings out the water’s blue color and contrasts nicely with the lightly colored cave marble walls.
The final stop is the cathedral and the chapel. These are islets with its base eroded.
What To Wear During the Tour
Marble Caves is in the Patagonia region of South America. We learned that the weather in Patagonia can be unpredictable from almost two months of exploring this huge area. Definitely wear something warm if you are going on the 8 AM tour. I wore two layers of clothing plus a winter vest and it was just right for me. My wife wore her down jacket and she stayed comfortable.
The life vests that the tour operators provide have been used for a while as they are faded. As such there is a particular smell emanating from the vest typical of something that goes through a constant cycle of being worn, getting wet and then drying. So make sure you wear something you can wash that comes in contact with the life preserver.
Summary
Marble Caves exist nowhere else but in Chile. These caves are located on Lago General Carrera near the barrio of Puerto Rio Tranquilo. These caves are formed by thousands of years of erosion due to wave action and the carbonic acid present in the lake.
Reaching Puerto Rio Tranquilo is no easy feat. The closest commercial airport is Bariloche, almost 200 kms and more than 3 hours drive away. To add to the adventure, the last 120 kms or so is graded gravel and dirt road with some jaw jarring washboard sections. You will be shaken for about two hours.
There are several tour operators in Puerto Rio Tranquilo. Deciding on which one to use can be daunting. Best to use local knowledge which would be your accommodation host.
The first tour departs at 8 AM. Best to make reservations days before to secure a spot on the day and time you want to go. Some tour operators may ask for a deposit or full payment the day before to keep your reservation.
Doing the Full tour was a great experience. We learned a little history behind the former mining town of Puerto Sanchez. Plus it provided more time to look at a lot of marble caves. The boat ride alone is about 20 minutes one way so getting on the shorter tour to save a few bucks would significantly cut your time in seeing the caves.
The tour concludes at the cathedral and the chapel which are the iconic photos of Marble Caves posted on the Internet. Then you can say to yourself “one item on the bucket list – checked!”.